Why Do Relationships Fail?

Relationships fail for many reasons. However, most of these reasons come down to one-word communication. Relationships require people to communicate appropriately and in a way where both people understand where each person is coming from, also known as empathy.

Empathy is the ability to understand what another person is feeling and their perspective of a situation or circumstance. Why is empathy important in a relationship? For many people, being in a relationship, especially an intimate relationship, is about feeling like the other person understands them. If someone perceives that their partner or friend does not understand their viewpoint, they do not feel heard or understood. In such situations, people become resentful and break off their contact with people they feel are not empathic towards them.

Another communication issue that allows relationships to fail is when people do not make the relationship a priority in their lives. Relationships are like plants; they need constant maintenance via water and sunlight. If someone only spends time with another person when it is convenient for them or is unwilling to sacrifice other activities to be with that person, then the relationship will suffer. Everyone gets busy with various duties and responsibilities, and as long as that is communicated to the other person, this is not an issue.

However, when someone does not communicate to a friend or intimate partner that they are too busy to spend time with them, this often becomes an issue. People want their friends and lovers to value them, and they want to feel needed to a certain extent. Relationships can only grow through interaction which requires putting in the time to spend with another person. Without such a time commitment, the relationship with eventually wither.    

Therefore, communicating with another requires understanding their point of view and where they are coming from emotionally. It requires a time commitment to create an atmosphere of emotional intimacy and trust. By engaging in these areas, relationships have a much higher chance of continuing to grow and blossom. Without these, the relationship will most likely fail at some point.